OUR GOD IS VERY GOOD
Mark 10:17 -18
17 As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on His knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone.”
How is God Good?
u Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.”
u Matthew 5:45 “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
How does God reveal His goodness?
u In Creation
u In His Word
u In Redemption
u In Christ
How are we to make the goodness of God real in our lives?
1. Recognize that God is good and that we are not.
Psalm 14: 2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”.
2. Recognize that God is the source and standard for goodness.
· Read Matthew 19:16-22.
· What is your STANDARD for “goodness”?
· EXPERIENCE is not the STANDARD for GOODNESS.
· We say: “I am the standard for GOOD”.
· GOD says: “I AM the standard for GOOD.”
3. Recognize that God turns badness into goodness.
· Romans 8:28 “And we KNOW that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
· James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Conclusion:
The Don’ts
u Don’t judge God by YOUR standard of “goodness”.
u Don’t judge God by whether He does what YOU want Him to do.
u Don’t judge God by how YOU would run this universe if you were God.
The Do’s
u Repent of your sinful thoughts and ways.
u Imitate God’s goodness and be transformed by His Spirit.
u Thank God for His goodness & count your blessings.